Connecticut as a colony and as a state; or, One of the original thirteen; . rcial relationswith that vast territory lying north of the boundary line ofthe State, urged that the Legislature should take some actionto utilize for freighting purposes those extensive water-courses which crossed the country in a northerly directionfrom tidewater. Attempts were made to dredge and form achannel in the Housatonic River; but its bed was of such arocky foundation that little progress was made. The Nor-wich Channel Company was incorporated in 1805, forimproving the Thames River; if they succeeded in makin
Connecticut as a colony and as a state; or, One of the original thirteen; . rcial relationswith that vast territory lying north of the boundary line ofthe State, urged that the Legislature should take some actionto utilize for freighting purposes those extensive water-courses which crossed the country in a northerly directionfrom tidewater. Attempts were made to dredge and form achannel in the Housatonic River; but its bed was of such arocky foundation that little progress was made. The Nor-wich Channel Company was incorporated in 1805, forimproving the Thames River; if they succeeded in makingit navigable for vessels drawing eight and a half feet ofwater, they were to be empowered to demand certain company made but slight headway, and about twentyyears after its incorporation it was merged with the ThamesBank of Norwich. To encourage internal commerce in the Connecticut River,the Legislature in 1824 incorporated the Connecticut RiverCompany for the purpose of removing sand-bars, buildingcanals, and making all improvements necessary for the bet- 282. CONNECTICUT AS A STATE terment of river navigation, as far north as Barnet, Vermont,providing the company should receive the approval of theLegislatures of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ver-mont. The latter was the only one that ratified the companyscharter; they therefore confined their efforts exclusively tothat section of the river lying in Connecticut. The companywas composed mostly of Hartford citizens, who were desir-ous of establishing a through transportation line to the north-ern country, in advance of one contemplated by New Havenparties, who proposed building a canal from tidewater atthat citv to Northampton, Massachusetts, intersecting theConnecticut River at that point. Hartford was at this time the head of sloop navigation onthe Connecticut River, and held the key to the northern tradeas far as the Canadian borders. The building of canals aroundthe falls in Massachusetts and Vermont, the comp
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